Odonata of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India - Aquatic Ecosystem: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation - page 156

classic lentic habitat for odonates. Several small
water bodies, streams and small rivers also
provide habitat diversity, ranging from sediment
and large woody debris in fl owing water to
vegetation-choked reaches, pools and bank areas.
The high habitat complexity at multiple spatial
scales provides a wide variety of odonata habitat,
which in turn results in high species richness of
odonata in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Twenty species of odonates under four
families and 16 genera were recorded during
the period of study. Out of these Lathrecista
asiatica asiatica, Neurothemis fl uctuans and
Orthetrum sabina sabina were most common
and abundance species in Great Nicobar
Biosphere Reserve. The family Aeshnidae and
Calopterygidae were representing only one
species, Gycantha dravida and Vestalis gracilis,
respectively. The high similarity index value
indicated that two locations of Great Nicobar
Island are quite similar in odonate community
structure. The croplands in Gandhi Nagar supported
more number of species in terms of richness and
abundance. The Great Nicobar Island supports a
more diverse odonate community in the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
Thirty one species of odonates under four
families and 25 genera were recorded during
the period of study. Out of these Crocothemis
servilia servilia, Lathrecista asiatica asiatica,
Orthetrum sabina sabina and Tremea limbata
similiata were most common and abundant
species in all islands of Richie's archipelago.
The family Calopterygidae, Lestidae, Protoneuridae,
Platycnemididae and Platystictidae were represents
only one species each, namely, Vestalis gracilis,
Lestes praemorsa praemorsa, Prodasineura
verticalis andamanensis, Copera marginipes
and Drepanosticta annandalei, respectively.
The diversity and evenness patterns observed
were almost certainly infl uenced by relatively
rare species. All the species observed are associ-
ated with lentic habitats. Most of the dragonfl ies
observed oviposit in open water and most of the
damselfl ies are associated with shallow water with
emergent vegetation into which they oviposit
endophytically. The croplands and grassland in

Richie's archipelago offered these oviposition
cues; hence, there should have been no differences
in species occurrence based upon presence or
absence of suitable habitat.
The ecology of the Odonata of Andaman and
Nicobar Islands is very poorly known and
therefore only a limited discussion of the habitat
requirements of the recorded species can be
given. At the very least, this work will serve as a
foundation for the development of additional
investigations and conservation strategies for
Odonata in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
More intensive studies on the Odonata fauna of
Andaman and Nicobar Islands are needed to
better understand the impact of the modifi cation
and destruction of the habitat these islands in
Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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